Rovers land former Lincoln City pro and Linnet Battersby

Dersingham Rovers’ hopes of winning the Almary Green Anglian Combination League Premier Division were boosted on Wednesday, as the club confirmed the signing of former Lincoln City and Lynn forward Tony Battersby.

Rob Back’s side may be 10 points behind table-topping Long Stratton going into this weekend’s match with Norwich CEYMS but they have six games in hand on the majority of the sides above them and are unbeaten in three league matches and enjoyed a good run in the Norfolk Senior Cup.

Battersby started his career at Sheffield United, later moving to Notts County, Bury and Lincoln, before dropping into non-League football where we has played for the Linnets and local side Wisbech Town.

The forward has also played abroad and in the summer of 1995 he joined Finnish second division club BK-IFK on loan, scoring 24 goals in just 18 appearances for the Vasa club. He attracted the attention of the Premier League-team VPS Vaasa with his performances with the city rivals BK-IFK, but no deal was ever to be as Battersby returned to Sheffield United in the autumn.

The high-profile signing delighted Rovers boss Rob Back and he told the Lynn News it was a great signing for the club.

He said: “It’s a great signing for us and it will add some much needed experience to our squad after we have lost the English brothers due to injury.

“Tony has come out of retirement to help us climb up the table. It’s a one of the biggest signings the club has ever done, and we are very Lucky to have such a player of his calibre. Tony will be available for the game against the champions Acle next Saturday for his debut and we are all delighted to have him at the club and are looking forward to seeing him in action.”

Battersby said: “Today, I am nearly 40, but football is all I have ever done and I miss it now even at my age. Football is in my blood and that is why I am putting my boots back on, to get back playing football and to help the club win the league.”